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يدان ترتجفان
Her temporary position working with antiques seemed ideal. Her employer was another matter. "I don't think much of woman in business," Brent Mallory warned Vanessa. "They're too often resentful of authority, too prone to distraction...."
Vanessa indeed found plenty of cause for distraction: Brent Mallory himself!
Vanessa indeed found plenty of cause for distraction: Brent Mallory himself!
- GenresHarlequin RomanceRomance
Unknown Binding
First published June 1, 1968
4 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Kay Thorpe
181 books65 followersKay Thorpe was born on 1935 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK. An avid reader from the time when words on paper began to make sense, she developed a lively imagination of her own, making up stories for the entertainment of her young friends. After leaving school, she tried a variety of jobs, including dental nursing, and a spell in the Women's Royal Airforce from which she emerged knowing a whole lot more about life - if only as an observer.
In 1960, she married with Tony, but didn't begin thinking about trying her hand at writing for a living until she gave up work some four years later to have a baby, John. Having read Mills & Boon novels herself, and done some market research in the local library asking readers what it was they particularly liked about the books, she decided to aim for a particular market, and was fortunate to have her very first, completed manuscript accepted - The Last of the Mallorys, published in 1968. Since then she has written over seventy five books, which doesn't begin to compare with the output of some Mills & Boon authors, but still leaves her wondering where all those words came from.
Sometimes, she finds she has become two different people: the writer at her happiest when involved in the world of books and authors; and the housewife, turning her hands to the everyday needs of husband and son. Once in a while, she finds it difficult to step from one role to the other. She likes cooking, for instance, but she finds that it can be an irritating interruption when she's preoccupied with work on a novel, so the quality of her efforts in the kitchen tend to be a little erratic. She says, "As my husband once remarked, my writing gives life a fascinating element of uncertainly: one day a perfect coq au vin, the next day a couple of burned chops!"
Luckily Kay has daily professional help with her housework, and that leaves her time to indulge in her hobbies. Like many other Mills & Boon authors, she admits to being a voracious consumer of books, a quality she shares with her readers. She likes music and horseback riding, which she does in the countryside near her home. But her favorite hobby is travel - especially to places that will make good settings for her books.
Kay now lives on the outskirts of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, along with husband, Tony, and a huge tabby cat called Mad Max, her one son having flown the coop. Some day she'll think about retiring, but not yet awhile.
In 1960, she married with Tony, but didn't begin thinking about trying her hand at writing for a living until she gave up work some four years later to have a baby, John. Having read Mills & Boon novels herself, and done some market research in the local library asking readers what it was they particularly liked about the books, she decided to aim for a particular market, and was fortunate to have her very first, completed manuscript accepted - The Last of the Mallorys, published in 1968. Since then she has written over seventy five books, which doesn't begin to compare with the output of some Mills & Boon authors, but still leaves her wondering where all those words came from.
Sometimes, she finds she has become two different people: the writer at her happiest when involved in the world of books and authors; and the housewife, turning her hands to the everyday needs of husband and son. Once in a while, she finds it difficult to step from one role to the other. She likes cooking, for instance, but she finds that it can be an irritating interruption when she's preoccupied with work on a novel, so the quality of her efforts in the kitchen tend to be a little erratic. She says, "As my husband once remarked, my writing gives life a fascinating element of uncertainly: one day a perfect coq au vin, the next day a couple of burned chops!"
Luckily Kay has daily professional help with her housework, and that leaves her time to indulge in her hobbies. Like many other Mills & Boon authors, she admits to being a voracious consumer of books, a quality she shares with her readers. She likes music and horseback riding, which she does in the countryside near her home. But her favorite hobby is travel - especially to places that will make good settings for her books.
Kay now lives on the outskirts of Chesterfield in Derbyshire, along with husband, Tony, and a huge tabby cat called Mad Max, her one son having flown the coop. Some day she'll think about retiring, but not yet awhile.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 20, 2022
This is a pretty typical vintage Harlequin where most of the big drama and misunderstanding occurs inside heroine's head while she keeps an outwardly composed face. H and h spend most of their time in platonic relationships with bland, non-threatening OW/OM on the periphery. OW and OM eventually end up as a couple, finally allowing for the clearing of all Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstandings so that H and h can have their HEA. I will remember this one for the lovely antique-porn, especially the initial scene where H job-interviews h with his back turned to her, commanding her to assess the authenticity of a French vase of vague origins. When she starts speaking and he realizes he is interviewing a woman, he whirls around in astonishment only to fall in a coup de foudre love explosion at first sight of her. Much more original than the "meet-cutes" of most romances today where heroine inevitably trips all over herself and bumps into the hero to kick-start their courtship :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2012
4 Stars! ~ This is Ms. Thorpe's debut, published in 1968. Other than the lack of technology, (actually there was a rather nice surprise of a modern, for it's day, electric typewriter!), this story holds the test of time. As is the norm in early Harlequin Romances, we get glimpses of Brent's inner feelings only through his reactions to others and mention of his mannerisms. Vanessa is a surprise to Brent, not only is she beautiful but she is smart and charming. I found myself eagerly turning the pages to read their HEA. If you enjoy a vintage romance, keep your eye out for this one.
June 23, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ I liked this early Kay Thorpe book! The angst due to misunderstandings/assumptions is there, just not high angst. The H was nice most of the time, very different from later Kay Thorpe heroes.
September 29, 2025
I took a 5 hour train home from Philadelphia with no headphones, no bags, no charger and a dead phone so I went to the only bookstore near me in philly which was a romance only local bookstore and found this one the the back section of old books for $5 each. I read the whole book in the exact time it took me to get home and was enjoying it enough to read the whole trip so I’m giving it 3.5 stars. Def going to drop this in a little free library somewhere and it will probably stay there forever.
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January 4, 2014بين كل فترة و أخرى استقطع وقتا لاتناول رواية من هذه السلسلة
جميل أن نجد نهاية سعيدة
ولو داخل رواية ....!!!!
جميل أن نجد نهاية سعيدة
ولو داخل رواية ....!!!!
July 10, 2021
Very Nice.
First of all a big thank you to my friend Naksed!!! 😘 You are the best!
This is the kind of vintage books I like, lovely with an understated subtle romance, set in a country manor loaded with treasures. The heroine, despite her youth, is quite the antiques expert (which is a secret fantasy of mine).
The Hero hires the heroine to catalogue the antiques in his manor house. Its a live in job that will last for 6 months. The Hero, his aunt and a cousin, also live with him in this country home.
Why not a higher rating? Well, the romance was a bit TOO subtle. I couldn't feel the chemistry between the main characters. For the most part the Hero acted like the very proper and polite employer to the heroine, which is fine, except we find out in the end that he fell in love with her at first sight.
The only indications of these are the few times he shows anger and jealousy towards the OM, his cousin, but they have a contentious relationship anyway, so even these hints or clues seem like the reader is just grasping at straws to find the romance.
He spends more evenings having dinner out with a perceived OW or his friends, without the heroine. If he had really loved her, why did he make no effort at all to include her in his social life; introduce her to his circle? She was new to the area, she didn't know anyone aside from the people in the house where they lived.
So yes, while I liked the tone and a lot of aspects about this book, it could have been better. I understand this is the first harlequin by Kay Thorpe and later she will evolve to be one of the more edgy writers whose tropes push the envelope.
First of all a big thank you to my friend Naksed!!! 😘 You are the best!
This is the kind of vintage books I like, lovely with an understated subtle romance, set in a country manor loaded with treasures. The heroine, despite her youth, is quite the antiques expert (which is a secret fantasy of mine).
The Hero hires the heroine to catalogue the antiques in his manor house. Its a live in job that will last for 6 months. The Hero, his aunt and a cousin, also live with him in this country home.
Why not a higher rating? Well, the romance was a bit TOO subtle. I couldn't feel the chemistry between the main characters. For the most part the Hero acted like the very proper and polite employer to the heroine, which is fine, except we find out in the end that he fell in love with her at first sight.
The only indications of these are the few times he shows anger and jealousy towards the OM, his cousin, but they have a contentious relationship anyway, so even these hints or clues seem like the reader is just grasping at straws to find the romance.
He spends more evenings having dinner out with a perceived OW or his friends, without the heroine. If he had really loved her, why did he make no effort at all to include her in his social life; introduce her to his circle? She was new to the area, she didn't know anyone aside from the people in the house where they lived.
So yes, while I liked the tone and a lot of aspects about this book, it could have been better. I understand this is the first harlequin by Kay Thorpe and later she will evolve to be one of the more edgy writers whose tropes push the envelope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2016
One of her best romantic novels.
August 18, 2025
A Vintage Harlequin book! How weird to read à story where girls have to take à bus, to arrive to à manor in the middle of nowhere, in the countryside, in the calm and quiet.
I liked the setting. Rayling Manor and whereabouts were interesting.
I liked Vivian s job as it was written. Evaluating the value of all precious objects in the manor and cataloguing it to make it available for potential tourists or buyers. And even some description of Ming Vases.
I thought her job was original.
And having tea breaks.
Wasnt so impressed by Brent attitude towards Vivian. But he got to appreciate her work.
Shame author always finds the need to add a "spoilt girl attitude" with Moyah character. Flirting with Brent. To keep the suspense going.
Gerard is also quite annoying.
I liked the setting. Rayling Manor and whereabouts were interesting.
I liked Vivian s job as it was written. Evaluating the value of all precious objects in the manor and cataloguing it to make it available for potential tourists or buyers. And even some description of Ming Vases.
I thought her job was original.
And having tea breaks.
Wasnt so impressed by Brent attitude towards Vivian. But he got to appreciate her work.
Shame author always finds the need to add a "spoilt girl attitude" with Moyah character. Flirting with Brent. To keep the suspense going.
Gerard is also quite annoying.
July 31, 2022
رواية جميلة بشكل عام
أحببت أسلوب الكتابة .. الجو العام الكلاسيكي أدخلني جو رتيب لأن لها طابع روتيني وأحداث بسيطة ومختصرة
الفكرة والرواية أشعرتني إنها تدور حول العمل أكثر من العاطفة وهذا شيء ما توقعته، فيه أفكار وأحداث تفرض وجود
المرأة في الحياة بشكل عادل وهذا شيء حبيته رغم إنه انذكر بشكل شبه سطحي،شخصية فانيسا جدًا جميلة ومثيرة للاهتمام وتمثل القوة والقدوة كامرأة بدون أي افتقار للأنوثة.
أحببت أسلوب الكتابة .. الجو العام الكلاسيكي أدخلني جو رتيب لأن لها طابع روتيني وأحداث بسيطة ومختصرة
الفكرة والرواية أشعرتني إنها تدور حول العمل أكثر من العاطفة وهذا شيء ما توقعته، فيه أفكار وأحداث تفرض وجود
المرأة في الحياة بشكل عادل وهذا شيء حبيته رغم إنه انذكر بشكل شبه سطحي،شخصية فانيسا جدًا جميلة ومثيرة للاهتمام وتمثل القوة والقدوة كامرأة بدون أي افتقار للأنوثة.
February 26, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much.
June 28, 2022
Her temporary position working with antiques seemed ideal. Her employer was another matter. "I don't think much of woman in business," Brent Mallory warned Vanessa. "They're too often resentful of authority, too prone to distraction...."
Vanessa indeed found plenty of cause for distraction: Brent Mallory himself!
Vanessa indeed found plenty of cause for distraction: Brent Mallory himself!
Read
September 25, 2018تحت عنوان: يدان ترتجفان
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews